Court reverses Passaic golf course sale; layoffs possible

As many as 750 workers could be laid off after the proposed sale of a Passaic County golf course to another county agency was barred by an appellate division panel, which ruled the sale could not be used to cover $18.3 million in budget gaps.

The decision reverses state approval for the sale of Passaic County Golf Course to the Passaic County Improvement Authority, a land development agency whose five members are appointed by the freeholders.

The 374-acre course lies in Wayne and Totowa.

The authority proposed using bonds to pay for the property, but the appellate court said the county could not use borrowed money to pay for current budget operating expenses.

The decision could have severe consequences for Passaic County, whose officers now must find alternate means to reduce spending or otherwise plug crucial budget gaps over the next three years.

Options include laying off as many as 750 county workers, according to the court opinion released Monday, which attributes the estimate to the county freeholder board. Ultimately, the ruling could lead to a thorough review of county hiring and spending practices.